We suspected something was afoot when December 2022 came and went without the CFPB announcing its annual inflation adjustments to the credit card late fee safe harbor amounts set forth in Regulation Z (which implements the Truth in Lending Act). With the CFPB’s issuance yesterday of a proposal to substantially reduce the safe harbor amounts, eliminate the annual inflation adjustments, and make other significant changes to the Regulation Z rules for credit card late fees, we now know the reason for the CFPB’s inaction on the adjustments.… Continue Reading
John L. Culhane, Jr.
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CFPB files opposition to CFSA cross-petition for certiorari; payment processor trade group files amicus brief in support of cross-petition
Posted in CFPB, Litigation and Court Decisions
The CFPB has filed its brief in opposition to the cross-petition for certiorari filed by Community Financial Services Association (CFSA). The CFPB’s certiorari petition seeks review of the Fifth Circuit panel decision in Community Financial Services Association of America Ltd. v. CFPB. In that decision, the panel held the CFPB’s funding mechanism violates the Appropriations Clause of the U.S.… Continue Reading
Banking trade groups highlight CFPB SBREFA obligations for credit card penalty fees rulemaking
By John L. Culhane, Jr. on
In a letter to Director Chopra, five banking trade groups address the CFPB’s obligation to comply with the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996 (SBREFA) before proposing a rule on credit card late fees and late payments. The groups are the American Bankers Association, Credit Union National Association, Independent Community Bankers of America, National Association of Federally-Insured Credit Unions, and National Bankers Association.… Continue Reading
CFPB issues request for information on consumer credit card market
By John L. Culhane, Jr. on
The CFPB has issued a new request for information (RFI) to inform its biennial review of the credit card market mandated by the Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure Act of 2009 (CARD Act). Comments on the RFI must be received by April 24, 2023.
The CFPB’s first CARD Act report was published in October 2013, its second report was published in December 2015, its third report was published in December 2017, its fourth report was published in August 2019, and its fifth report was published in September 2021.… Continue Reading
Federal Reserve Board final rule on benchmark replacements for contracts that use LIBOR published in Federal Register; Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac instruct servicers on LIBOR replacement indices
The final rule issued by the Federal Reserve Board to implement the LIBOR Act by establishing default rules for benchmark replacements in certain contracts that use LIBOR as a reference rate was published in today’s Federal Register and will become effective on February 27, 2023.
Yesterday, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac issued instructions to servicers on replacement indices for their legacy single-family mortgage loans with 1-month, 6-month, and 1-year LIBOR indices. … Continue Reading
CFPB issues circular on negative option marketing
The CFPB has issued a new circular (2023-01) that addresses the circumstances under which “negative option marketing practices” can violate the CFPA prohibition of unfair, deceptive, or abusive acts or practices.
The circular uses the term “negative option” to refer to “a term or condition under which a seller may interpret a consumer’s silence, failure to take an affirmative action to reject a product or service, or failure to cancel an agreement as acceptance or continued acceptance of the offer.” … Continue Reading
Second Circuit holds inclusion on credit report of student loan debt alleged to have been discharged in bankruptcy did not make report inaccurate under FCRA
By John L. Culhane, Jr. on
Posted in Credit Reports, Litigation and Court Decisions
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit recently ruled that a plaintiff who alleged that Experian had violated the Fair Credit Reporting Act by including a discharged student loan debt on his credit report had not alleged an inaccuracy for purposes of the FCRA requirement that consumer reporting agencies (CRAs) follow reasonable procedures to assure the accuracy of information included in consumer reports. … Continue Reading
CFSA files opposition to CFPB’s certiorari petition seeking review of Fifth Circuit ruling that CFPB’s funding is unconstitutional and also files cross-petition for certiorari
Posted in CFPB, Litigation and Court Decisions
Community Financial Services Association (CFSA) has filed its brief in opposition to the CFPB’s certiorari petition seeking review of the Fifth Circuit panel decision in Community Financial Services Association of America Ltd. v. CFPB. In that decision, the panel held the CFPB’s funding mechanism violates the Appropriations Clause of the U.S.… Continue Reading
California DFPI releases modified proposed Student Loan Servicing Act regulations
On September 9, 2022, the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (DFPI) proposed to amend its student loan servicing regulations, which we previously covered here. After reviewing public comments, on January 6, 2023, the DFPI released a Notice requesting an additional round of public comments on a modified set of regulations. … Continue Reading
CFPB proposes registry for supervised nonbanks using form contracts containing arbitration provisions, waivers, or other limits
The CFPB has issued a proposed rule to establish a system for the registration of nonbanks subject to CFPB supervision that use “certain terms or conditions that seek to waive consumer rights or other legal protections or limit the ability of consumers to enforce their rights.” Arbitration provisions are among the terms that would trigger registration. … Continue Reading